By

Share

Blog Roll

The Wine Country Next Door: The Fruit Highway

Apr 13th 2012

Like many New World wine producing areas, Southwestern Colorado’s terroir was originally planted with fruit, notably the famous Palisade Peach. The region is still known for its fruit, and many wineries also produce varieties made with local fruit nectars. Fruit ripens in late June, and many orchards offer tours and tasting experiences.

Getting ThereSalt Lakers will easily take a quick weekend trip down to Moab for biking and hiking, and Colorado’s Wine Country is only a little farther down the road—specifically, one hour farther. From Green River, you’ll skip the road that leads to Moab (Utah Highway 191) and continue on I-70 into Colorado. And if you’re hankering for mountain biking, Palisade’s neighbor Fruita is home to a Moab-rivaling trail system. Plus you can use your bike on Palisade’s wine-and-fruit highway.

Where to StayNext to the Grand River Vineyards, the Wine Country Inn (777 Grande River Dr., Palisade, 888-855-8330, coloradowinecountryinn.com) is a full-service hotel with one of the town’s rare pools. The rooms are comfortable and the service top notch. The inn’s restaurant serves Colorado wines as well. In nearby Clifton, Mariner Family Farm (674 33rd Rd., Clifton, 970-434-3103, marinerfamilyfarm.com) is a B&B on a working farm run by Sherrie and Kim Mariner.